The 5 Stages of Grief – Bargaining
When you’re going through grief, there are times when you might feel really vulnerable and like you can’t do much about the situation. In these moments of intense emotions, it’s pretty normal to try to find ways to take control or to feel like you can somehow change what’s happening. This is where the bargaining stage of grief comes in.
During this stage, you might catch yourself making a lot of “what if” and “if only” statements. Some people, especially those who are religious, might even try to make a deal or promise to God or a higher power in the hope of getting relief from the grief and pain.
Bargaining acts like a kind of defense mechanism against the tough emotions that come with grief. It lets you put off feeling the sadness, confusion, or hurt for a little while. It’s a way of trying to make sense of things when they feel overwhelming.
Examples of the Bargaining Stage:
Breakup or divorce: |
“If only I had spent more time with her, she would have stayed.” |
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Job loss: |
“If only I worked more weekends, they would have seen how valuable I am.” |
Death of a loved one: |
“If only I had called her that night, she wouldn’t be gone.” |
Terminal illness diagnosis: |
“If only we had gone to the doctor sooner, we could have stopped this.” |
5 Stages of Grief
5 Stages of Grief: Losing someone or something important is like a journey, and it comes with different feelings and challenges. Imagine it as a map with seven stages, each stage showing a part of the journey through sadness.
In this article, we will take a look at the History of The 5 Stages of Grief, learn about the concept of The 7 Stages of Grief, and also go through some examples of different grief situations.
Let’s delve right into it!